The release of a new poetry CD by Wes Race is occasion for a review at ComicMix.com, but the story also includes some quite interesting background on Race’s time in Chicago blues joints (which provide material for the CD), and his role in the formation of blues powerhouse Alligator Records. Click the link below to read the full story:
Blues Poetry: Rough-And-Raw, by Michael H. Price – ComicMix news
Electrified T-shirt Giveaway
Over at Notes of the Urban Blues, we’re giving away some free Electrified T-shirts. It’s a pretty cool shirt, black with the Electrified movie logo, which is based on the classic Fender Stratocaster. To be entered in the drawing, all you have to do is tell us who your favorite blues artist is, and why. We’ll give away one T-shirt for every 10 entries. Complete information on how to enter and a picture of the shirt on this post. Entries close March 25th.
Electrified: The Story of the Maxwell Street Urban Blues in Austin March 11th
Electrified: The Story of the Maxwell Street Urban Blues is a new documentary that tells the definitive history of the Chicago blues. Written, directed and produced by Phil Ranstrom and narrated by actor Joe Mantegna, the film chronicles how the urban neighborhood of Maxwell Street created a unique environment of commerce and cooperation that led first to the hard-driving sound of the urban blues, and ultimately to rock and roll.
The film will be shown tomorrow March 11th in Austin, Texas at the Chuggin’ Monkey (219 E. 6th Street, Austin) at 5:15pm, followed by a live Q&A with Phil Ranstrom at 6pm. Admission is free. This special showing is part of the pre-festival celebration of the Red Gorilla Music Fest.
For more information about the film, visit our blog, Notes of the Urban Blues or the film web site.
Blues and the Spirit Symposium, May 22-24
Blues and the Spirit: A Symposium on the Legacy of Blues and Gospel Music will take place May 22 through 24, 2008 at Dominican University, River Forest, IL, just 9 miles west of downtown Chicago. The symposium will emphasize the heritage of African American Chicago and will explore the historical and common roots of Blues and Gospel. The program features presentations by distinguished scholars and musicians (invited speakers include Sterling Plumpp, Jim O’Neal, Timuel Black, Paul Garon, Gayle Dean Wardlow, Mrs. Willie Dixon, Portia Maultsby, Billy Branch, Bob Jones, Horace Maxile, Fernando Jones, Larry Taylor and James Abbington among others), a tour of historic Bronzeville, a multimedia art exhibit, educational workshops, receptions with live music, a Chicago blues club crawl and a special Friday evening concert featuring soul blues and gospel legend Otis Clay with Sharon Lewis opening. Contact us at (708)524-6050, email bluesandthespirit@dom.edu or visit our website for program updates, registration and lodging forms at www.dom.edu/blues. Registration is limited so reserve your place soon.
Jeff Healey dead at age 41
(B}BluesWire:-) Blind blues-rock guitarist Jeff Healey died Sunday March 2 in St. Joseph’s Hospital in his native Toronto, after a lifetime battle with the rare cancer, retino blastoma, that had blinded him as a child. While Healey was perhaps best known for the blues-rock guitar which he played unconventionally with the guitar laid across his lap, he also had released a number of fine jazz recordings, and played trumpet and clarinet as well as guitar. He appeared in the movie Roadhouse in 1989, and had been nominated for a Grammy award the previous year. After several popular rock and blues-rock recordings on Arista, and worldwide touring with luminaries such as B.B. King, Healey, an avid collector of vintage records, turned to his first love, jazz, and made several releases on the Edmonton label Stony Plain records. His first blues-rock record in 8 years, “Mess of Blues” was being prepared for release when he died. The recording includes studio material recorded in Toronto as well as live tracks recorded with the band in Canada and England. Healey was 41 years old, and is survived by his wife, Cristie, as well as two children.